Chatham County holds first reading of short‑term rental ordinance; second public meeting announced

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners on May 8 conducted the first reading of an amendment to the county code governing short‑term rentals, setting an effective date of July 1, 2026 and scheduling additional public outreach before a final vote.

County staff said the proposed amendment is Chapter 16, Article 13 of the Chatham County Code and that a second public meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 18 (location to be announced). Staff indicated a public hearing will be scheduled in the evenings to allow broader participation; the board instructed staff to share boundary maps so residents can verify whether the rules would apply to properties in their neighborhoods.

Commissioners stressed the ordinance applies only to unincorporated Chatham County and not to properties inside Savannah or other incorporated municipalities. The chair asked residents receiving email or text feedback about short‑term rentals to forward that input to the county manager so it can be included in the public record.

Next steps: staff will finalize meeting locations and publish materials and maps; a second reading and formal vote will follow after the additional public meeting and comment period.